We all know you shouldn’t pop your collar. It was fashionable with a certain group of pastel Abercrombie-wearing people not too long ago. It has since become a hard and fast rule to not pop your collar, for fear of looking anything like this guy:
In fact, if The Most Interesting Man in the World had thoughts on popped collars, I’m confident they would be similar to his thoughts on rollerblading:
But then you see a photo like this:
And it makes you wonder. I mean, that’s Paul Newman. He owns cool.
Take a look at the photo from Jake Davis’s Blog:
That collar is dangerously close to being fully popped. And Jake Davis is known the blogosphere over as being one of the most stylish, cool kids in NYC.
The evidence piles up and you need to start making exceptions. Why? Because that’s what we young men are supposed to do in order to become wise, stylish, well-aged gentlemen. At least according to Oliver Wendell Holmes. With that in mind, I propose a few exceptions to the “Never, ever pop your collar” rule.
1. Weather
Rain, snow, a big chill. Bad weather can cause a guy to pop his collar. Redford demonstrates here:
The same goes for any scenario where you are out in the sun and worried about burning your neck.
2. Fishing, boating, proximity to moving water
I don’t know why, but it just seems right. Newman again. He really knew how to do it:
3. Workin’
Joe Jackson is a great example here.
Yard work, car work, bike work, ballgame work (if you’re living in the late teens of last century). If you’re getting grimy and using tools you have permission. Especially if the sun is beating down, as mentioned above.
And that’s it. Notice I didn’t say workin’ it. Not at parties, not at the clubs, not on a date. Not as a fake joke (because you don’t want to own it). Just don’t do it. If you’ve recently showered and you’re not planning on getting wet or dirty, leave the collar down.
I’m sure I’m missing an exception or two. Or maybe I’ve gone too far. Are there no exceptions? I know you have an opinion here. Let’s hear it.
Tags: Style
Yes… exceptions…
You are exempt if you are on a boat, as the wind blows… and may do some involuntary popping. This rule applies to sports, yard work, mechanical fidgiting and any other instances where occupation or elements may pop for you.
You are Jake Davis and can get away with a perfectly, well-thought out disheveled look… without looking like you tried.
You did it in photos before 1995. I used to look tubular in the 80s with a pink popped polo… Risky Business.
Other than that. Nope.
Involuntary pop is allowed. I like that. And I agree, Jake Davis does as he likes. No questions asked.
I don’t think I like Jake Davis.
What about a 3/4 zipper fleece? I have one that looks kind of cool with the collar up. (Imagine that wool thing I almost bought that one time.) But I count beans, what do I know?
Also, I really think that both of those P. Newman photos just happened to have caught him at a windy moment when his collar blew up; as in, it wasn’t necessarily popped.
You make a good point, there are a number of sweaters/fleeces whose collars are meant to stand up. This is an entirely different situation than a popped collar. We know that because that wool sweater you almost bought looked really classy.
As for the Newman comment, that’s exactly the story I would have gone with if I were him. I think what we learn is you really need an excuse. It’s really best if it looks as if the collar did that on its own.